After that ear-splitting yell that Daegok-soo gutturally unleashed, he quickly runs toward the Tower on foot. His friends who have yet to devise any plan to tackle the tower watches as the man leaving them behind to taste dust as his running speed left them by surprise.
"Quick, to your motorcycle!" Gwi-jaum said to the Ansa-um as he points toward the heavy-duty motorcycle that he is allowed to take from the military. That's how the three of them got here in the first place.
Heeding Gwi-jaum's words because he is unsure of how to even make proper respond to this unnatural situation, he quickly gets on his motorcycle as Gwi-jaum and Jiang follows suit. The engine roars as the three rushed toward the same direction that Daegok-soo takes toward the Tower.
Or at least, that's what they intended to be. Because of the Tower's sudden appearance, nearly everything is in chaos right now because of so many people trying to rush toward it whether for clout or belief that they too can be like those MCs in those Tower Novels. It's a total mess that would make the Halloween trampling look like a minor injury.
Gwi-jaum's plan came to a stumbling stop because of the congested traffic of the metropolitan of Seoul. There's barely any way to move around at all but the reason he didn't ditch it because it will be important for the first few floors of the Tower where exploration will be its major obstacles.
Because contrary to belief, any technology still work somewhat in the Tower, it just can't keep up with the later floors due to accessibility to better options but right now even a vehicle is god-send.
"Hurry! We will lift this motorcycle toward this tower too!" Gwi-jaum said as he climbs out of the motorcycle and try to lift it up.
No question asked, Ansa-um and Jiang just tried to do the same as Gwi-jaum. With a special force soldier and a regressor at hands, they managed to lift the 200kg motorcycles with their own strength with the fatty helping the carrying stability. It's not the best tactic they can do but they have no more choice to follow.
Meanwhile, Daegok-su is still fast running toward it despite having made a few kilometers without stopping at all. Humans are a tenacious creature and he certainly display it with what he is doing. With the traffic completely dead, his rash choice of running toward it become beneficial to him as he could see that people are also ditching their own vehicles just to move on foot.
But when in a footrace, no compares to him. He has trained his body to run ever since he was a child and that he could easily sustain his fast running speed for up to hours on end.
The Unstoppable, that was what he called back during the school's track team. And the only one closest to break the world record of 100m sprint at the dead 10 second mark. And the few in the sub 2-hour record of marathon. Although no one remembered it anymore, he still runs for the sake of someone that not even his friends know.
So how come does someone like him is becoming a cook and setting up a restaurant? That... is something to be omitted or until he is more comfortable to talk about.
Leaving behind everything as anything to the side is nothing but blur in the moment. If you don't pay attention, he would be there and then suddenly gone the next second arrive.
The Tower became closer in his image and so he continues to run forward no matter what obstacles in his way.
Meanwhile, back at the trio. Carrying 200kg on their back ended up becoming far more tiring than how any of them imagined. They didn't even move for long they become tired again.
Gwi-jaum finally remembers the limitation of his unenhanced body and that he realized just how weak they are physically without the Tower's intervention. Although the idea of peak human exists in his mind, their bodies right now no matter how trained just can't break that limit.
Apparently, life after the Tower appear isn't just the Tower alone.
"Do you think there's a driveway toward there that doesn't involve the main road?" Ansa-um said as he got tired trying to carry a motorcycle over the half of an hour despite being a special force soldier.
He couldn't believe it but he has no choice but to propose that one solution. Ansa-um suddenly has a premonition that he is not going to like it either.
"We're going to take apart your vehicle into fragments so that we can carry it on our back". Gwi-jaum said nonchalantly without a bother about what he said.
Suddenly, the two starts to immediately get at each other's throat for their proposal. That is when Jiang realized why no novel worth its salt ever portray what happens during the first few moments when the Tower appears.
How much he could wished that it was all a bad dream right now.
Meanwhile, Daegok-su making it past the congested traffic and deadlocks which will take a complete coordination of all to even undo. Making over the distance of 40km within 2 hours inside an urban area. Quite a feat he just did and he looks like he could go for another trip. But he is getting near there and probably did better than most others from the same starting distance.
The Tower in itself is massive seemingly stretch toward the stratosphere itself. Although its height can't be gauge from the ground up, all he just knew that it is large.
"System. Operate" Daegok-su spoke out of curiosity to check if it works or not.
It did. No Tower Fantasy Novels are complete without them. It's a goddamn cliché at this point but one that he glad because otherwise, it will be hell to gauge himself whether or not.
_____-----^^^^-----_____
Name: Sun Daegok-su
LV: 1
STR: 4
AGI: 11
END: 5
DEX: 10
INT: 5
MAG: 0
CHA: 4
Remaining Attribute Point: 0
_____-----VVVV-----_____
"That... was disappointing". Daegok-su said as he examines the system that he has. It looks barebone and barely has any worthy information and as he expected, he can only rely on it just to examine his own attributes.
Suddenly, a massive holographic panel appears on the sky. And this time also show to him and he guessed that everyone else in the vicinity too.
The Tower has appeared on this world. Using all the resources that the Tower gives, each floor must be conquered within a month of time or else, the Tower will unleash its recipients inside to the outside world.
It was exactly what he worried about. If he was that immature brat years ago, he would be pretty giddy about this but... he is now a grown man with livelihood to worry thus this does nothing but to make his anxiety even worse.
"That message better clear all perimeters blockade that is set up in that few hours. If not then I can only guess that the government is trying to harness all that resource for its own". Daegok-su muttered as he continues the path onward.
As the Tower's figure become larger as he approaches, a sole determination within him burn to bring it all to an end.
Meanwhile, back at the trio. Ansa-um is crying as he carries the disassembled motorbike of his on his back. Jiang can only frown as the situation's extremity has officially gone beyond their wishes.
"Thanks, mister for letting us lend your tools". Gwi-jaum said as he bids farewell to the local automobile mechanics.
"Don't mind it too much, kiddo". The mechanic said before the three generic MCs bid their parting gestures.
And suddenly, their were system notifications appeared on everyone else around showing the warning message. The regressor can only really let out a heavy sigh as he knew that none of this will likely end well on anyone's note at all.
_____-----^^^^-----_____
Name: Sung Ansa-um
LV: 1
STR: 6
AGI: 7
END: 7
DEX: 7
INT: 6
MAG: 0
CHA: 9
Remaining Attribute Point: 0
_____-----VVVV-----_____
_____-----^^^^-----_____
Name: Hoe Gwi-jaum
LV: 1
STR: 6
AGI: 5
END: 5
DEX: 7
INT: 10
MAG: 0
CHA: 7
Remaining Attribute Point: 0
_____-----VVVV-----_____
_____-----^^^^-----_____
Name: Jiang Hyeongsa
LV: 1
STR: 4
AGI: 3
END: 7
DEX: 4
INT: 4
MAG: 0
CHA: 4
Remaining Attribute Point: 0
_____-----VVVV-----_____
Unfortunately for them, it was a rather accurate analysis of their stats in raw number. It seems that 5 is a baseline for a human being and any lower is just worse.
Jiang looks somewhat ashamed because he really is just that bad attribute-wise.
"Not too shabby either. But once you're in the Tower, you can forget about your original stat because they are bound to change". Gwi-jaum said as he continues to move toward the Tower.
"Damn you..." Ansa-um cursed Gwi-jaum as he holds back his tears as he carries one part of his taken-apart motorbike.
Quite needless to say that their friendship is being tested in real time.
Meanwhile, Daegok-soo could see an entire crowd of people surrounding the Tower's foot as a perimeter has been set up in hasty order. They definitely were unable to stop everyone from entering seeing as another system notification has popped up in due time.
In the event that any recipient of the Tower is prevented from entering by outside authority, the offenders will immediately be punished with great consequence.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
You don't really have to be genre-savvy to know that disobeying the Tower's demand is the fastest way to die. It would be even more stupid considering this entire generation is raised on that kind of fantasy that they consume mindlessly.
So the police perimeter has no reason to be there in the first place and they have no choice but letting people in. These people have their own lives and they decided rightfully that no amount of punishment can be comparable to what the Tower might do to them and their commanders.
Even still, they would rather not have people just trampling one another for the first entry thus they still remain just to maintain order. This is what Daegok-soo would definitely call 'the boring part of Tower Novels'.
Thus, Daegok-soo's mind went completely blank and has no recollection of the duration between as it conveniently omitted out of his mind. The few hours that he glad that he selectively doesn't remember.
And so, the first floor of the Tower, here he goes.
Floor 1: Land of Beginning
He was teleported into the town square of a medieval fantasy town. And much like all the things that a Tower MC should be doing is to talk with the people around him for information.
And conveniently, there's no language barrier at all or else he would be prompt for a rude awakening for sure. And a lot of people would fall for that too as there will be little hospitality at all if it happens.
He has no idea of where to start and he couldn't just idle in the goddamn Tower of all the places. So he did the most cliché start possible in every fantasy adventure novel, go to the town's most popular tavern and in his case, getting his role as chef assistant with his already existing culinary knowledge.
"That's a better start in comparison to majority of the people. I'm not the Regressor that Gwi-jaum is so I would better get myself going". Daegok-soo said as he then quickly navigates toward the closest establishment that fit the description.
Ding! Host has received a starting skill to accustom to the Tower.
If he has a cent for every time cliché things like this occur, he would sooner cause the world economy to collapse with just sheer quantity alone thus this shall be the last time he remarks about it. Either way, he decided to check what that skill is about.
_____-----{////\\\\}-----_____
Eyes of Secret (Rank: C) {Growth}
The ability of the host to see and detect
hidden treasures scatter around the Tower's floors.
Can analyze target's status and information
in which success depends on the differences
between the target's overall status and this
skill's rank.
Holder: Sung Daegok-soo
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Just as when he decided to complain again, he quickly held himself back from breaking the promise that he just made in seconds ago no less. Not because of the nature of the skills but because of how overdone this kind of skill is if he remembers correctly.
"Really can't escape the identity as an Korean Edgelord, aren't I?" Daegok-soo muttered before giving up on arguing with the System about it.
Turns out, you really can't enter a tavern then asks for job. Those bastards in the novels lied to him about how easy it is to get a job in which he finally understand why people get into adventuring despite not being the best at it. Thus, the Adventuring Guild is the next destination proposed because if there's any job listing, it would be there. And the people here can tell him the direction easily
And so he omitted more of those unnecessary details in between. Such as him getting lost due to being unfamiliar with the town's geography, getting into wrong places and many more meaningless dribbles that occur in meantime. In hindsight, waiting for Hoe Gwi-jaum to arrive is suddenly a better idea that he should have taken in the first place.
After plentiful of struggle of navigation in the area. If only the 'Eyes of Secret' did him uses in navigation then he would probably wouldn't waste his time meaninglessly like this. But either way, he is here to get things in order.
"Welcome to the Adventuring Guild, are you here for registering to the Guild?" The Guild receptionist spoke to him as he steps through the front door.
"No thanks, just give me the posting for any tavern that has recruitment going on right now". Daegok-soo said as he asks for the most outlandish request. Like asking where to buy apple from orange stall.
He's not going to try his luck getting outside of the town without proper preparation either way. Until his friends come along that is.
Meanwhile, back at the town square. The trio finally made their way, their body gave out as they all immediately let go of the gigantic weight they carry as a normal human.
"Bloody hell, how did we even make it here with all of these?" Jiang said as he is easily the most impacted due to his far-from-best physiology. Carrying 80kg for like hours on end while moving on foot reminds him of the hell that was his military enlistment.
"Fuck you, man. This better be worth it". Anssa-um said as he
Ding! Host has received a starting skill to accustom to the Tower.
_____-----{////\\\\}-----_____
Knowledge of Engineering (Rank: C) {Growth}
Host can easily assemble machineries if all given parts are
present. Can analyze the compartments and what it is used
for. Depends on the rank, it may also reveal greater purpose
behind said compartments.
Holder: Sung Anssa-um
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
_____-----{////\\\\}-----_____
Animal Communication (Rank: D) {Growth}
Host can communicate with animals directly.
Depends on the species of the animals that
host communicate with, the chance of
misinterpetation or communication rise
the greater the target's status in comparison
with the host.
Holder: Jiang Hyeongsa
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Eternal Arm Masteries (Rank: D) {Growth}
The ability to wield all weapons with proficiency.
Even if picking up unfamiliar weaponries, host will
be able to perform combat techniques suitable for
the wielding weapon.
Holder: Hoe Gwi-jaum
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
Anssa-um upon seeing his skill immediately try to to use it on his disassembled motorcycle. With all of the mechanic tools lay in folds, he quickly assembles the motorcycle back as if he was an assembly machine right out of the factory line.
"By the way, if you say 'Inventory' then you will be able to stash whatever you carry with you. No need for carrying mass quantity of something. Although where the hell did that bastard Daegok-soo gone already". Gwi-jaum said as he looks around with the place with a sense of familiarity.
Meanwhile, back at Sun Daegok-soo.
"So... this is the place and... What a sad-looking tavern it is". Daegok-soo said as he looks at shambling and run-down state it is in.
He heard about how its previous owner is trying to get rid of it due to geographical and layout issues hence the attempt to sell it for dirt-cheap. Apparently, the Guild's loan didn't even reach for a few hundred golds which can be easily resolved in months if he could make a decent normal living with it.
Fast? Certainly not but he now has a foundation and a place to turn to if things turn sideway. It is his place now, and way faster than what he did for the establishment back outside the Tower.
Dusty and damp, much like any newly-purchased buildings from other people. It reminds him back when he got his place and try to decorate it too. Almost nostalgic at this point.
Pulling the sheets that veiled the wooden furniture, mop and dusting the floor and surrounding. When you think of Tower climbing, you don't think of home innovation for sure. It took him hours on end to clean this place and by the time he did so with the lounge and kitchen, it almost turn night already.
Daegok-soo let himself lies on the chair that he painstakingly clean. Even if there's nothing too special about it, the fact that he can even buy a place for himself makes it genuine to him.
Before he could even take a breather, a guest entered the dimly lit place. Shrouded in a blue hooded-cloak, with blonde short beard and unkempt hair. Dressed in white tunic and black pant underneath that cloak. Almost undetected, he sits himself in the nearby seat before making his order.
"Surprise me". The man in blue cloak said to Daegok-soo as he waits patiently.
Daegok-soo takes this as a surprise since he hasn't yet even make any attempt at making his place known but here is his first customer already. If he blunders this already, it would be damning of him later on.
"Surprise me, huh? I wonder what I can make with what supplies I have". Daegok-soo said as checks out the inventory of the tavern.
Unsurprisingly, there wasn't much to be found at all. Some white onion, flour, olive oils, salt and pepper, dried breads... He didn't expect much to begin with but with how little it is, there's hardly any meal that can be made to begin with.
"Limitation is the mother of innovation. Let us proceed either way". Daegok-soo sighed before he proceeds with the making of whatever he has in mind. Beside, this reminds him of back then when he first steps into the path of culinary.
Daegok-soo peeks around the corner as he looked at the mysterious customer that he got. Then he squints his eyes toward the man as his starting skill activated.
Eyes of Secret:
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Warning! The target has the ability to counter-
analyze. The targeted recipient has detected
that they are being analyzed.
Name:?????
LV: 1
STR: 12
END: 11
AGI: 13
DEX: 12
INT: 7
MAG: 3
CHA: 7
Remaining Attribute Points: 0
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
"What in the hell with that monstrous stat he has at level 1!? And he actually counter-analyzed it?!" Daegok-soo anxiously screams in his mind as when he unwittingly try to analyze a walking disaster waiting to happen.
"Didn't your parents tell you that it is rude to look at people with that eyes? How would your customers react if they being treated like that?" The mysterious man said as if he knew already that Daegok-soo as it is a non-issue.
"YES!" Daegok-soo said before he ran back into the kitchen, hoping that the dangerously powerful customer would drop the subject while he wait.
After a little while, Daegok-soo carries a plate of something out. With all the limited resources he have, he decided to resort to the sure-firing solution he has.
Deep-fried onion rings. To some, it may just be a simple appetizer before actual meals. But to him, this dish is a history of its own to him.
"It ain't much but it's honest work". Daegok-soo apologizes to the customer of his for his previous rude behavior.
The man looks at the simple dish that he made before he takes a bite out of it. Then he takes another one and then another. Before Daegok-soo even noticed the time, the dish that he brought was emptied already.
You have consumed 'Mediocre Deep-fried Onion Rings'.
"Wow, no mercy". Daegok-soo said as although he steeled himself for criticism, it still fucking gut him.
Activate Hyper-metabolism.
You have fully healed and gain permanent +3 to STR, END.
'Bruh, is this man a gourmet or something? Is he seriously trying to eat all the dishes that are capable of being made to become strongest or something?' Daegok-soo thought in his mind as he sees the customer doesn't bother to hide his skills in front of him.
"Not bad. For something made entirely on the fly. As a reward, you can either be paid in money or... you can have me teach you a skill that I have". The man said as he seems satisfied with what Daegok-soo has made.
Then as a proof of trust, he reveals his entire status screen to Daegok-soo.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Name: Harold Seminute
LV: 1
STR: 15
END: 14
AGI: 13
DEX: 12
INT: 7
MAG: 3
CHA: 7
Remaining Attribute Points: 0
-Passive Skill:
Hyper-metabolism (Rank: A)
Hero's Duty (Rank: EX)
-Active Skill:
Thousand March Footwork (Rank: C) {Growth}
Immovable Swordsmanship (Rank: S)
Goddess's Favor (Rank: EX)
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
"Wait... he's actually serious!?" Daegok-soo muttered loudly in his mind while his face outside remain colds and unmoving. The dissonance between the anxious thoughts and calculative appearance can't be even more deceptive.
"Come on, pick one and I can teach you. Or you could just pick the money if that's what you want. I don't have eternity, you know". Harold said as he is still holding the status screen on his palm.
"Alright. the EX-rank skill seems powerful but... I can't even analyze it despite using Eyes of Secret so it is likely as powerful as its rank. But... he said he is teaching me, not transferring a skill at all. If I picked that, I would likely stuck in an endless futile attempt to learn it". Daegok-soo thought as he thinks thoroughly with Harold's active skills.
"Immovable Swordsmanship is good looking for sure but... I'm not even having a single affinity with the sword. Seeing how crap my own Strength and the weapons that he wield is two broadswords and... yikes. Pass". Daegok-soo thought again as he is nowhere suitable for using a weapon that he isn't even familiar with. It doesn't matter how powerful a skill is, if it isn't suitable, he's screwing with himself later on.
The final result is the Thousand March Footwork. That he could analyze.
______-----{////\\\\}-----______
Thousand March Footwork (Rank: C) {Growth}
A martial footwork skill developed by the legendary
Hero who is capable of solving all the world-ending quests
in only 30 seconds.
Those who master this skill will be able to travel across
continents in just seconds alone. No matter the hazardous
terrains or environment that they must cross.
Its trainees will learn how to sustain their maximum movement
speed. Fast recovery and acceleration along with handling at
such speed impossible for the human mind to perceive.
Current Holder: Harold Seminute
------_____{\\\\////}_____------
You know what? That's the skill he is going to pick. He doesn't give a shit about Immovable Swordsmanship or Goddess's Favor. If that's something which can be learned then nothing else really matter. He's good at running either way so that's the only thing that is of immediate use for him.
"The Thousand March Footwork. I believe that anything else might be unsuitable for me". Daegok-soo said with no hesitation. He made up his mind already.
"You sure? Thought that you would try to get my S-rank skill or even the EX". Harold said as he is a bit surprised that Daegok-soo is willing to pick the movement skill instead of anything else.
"Do I look I have any other choice?" Daegok-soo said with a deadpan snark.
"Heh... What a choice you make. Let us consider a deal between us. You keep making different meals with that skill of yours and I shall teach you the skill. And as repayment for the meal, the training start now". Harold said after he gives that smirk.
"Wait... now?" Daegok-soo muttered in confusion before his mind completely registers the words.
In the next moment that follow, Daegok-soo quickly ran out of his tavern as he runs as fast as he could while Harold chases behind, while yelling and screaming as if a literal demon is chasing after him.
"One lap around the town as warm-up! I need to gauge your running capability before we start training!" Harold said as he gives chase after Daegok-soo.
The sight of the two men running while yelling at each other incessantly gives some people misunderstanding of what may have happened. But in the end, they considered as nothing special.
Meanwhile, back in a random tavern somewhere in the town.
"Where is he? Isn't he supposed to be scouring the taverns for any unique dish that he come across?" Hoe Gwi-jaum said as he still patiently waits, not realizing that the butterfly effect may have already taken place too soon.
"Why are we here, by the way? Is this some hidden master of floor 1 that I heard so much about?" Jiang asked as he has his own conversation with a cat using his skill.
"Genre Savvy, aren't we? But thinking about it, wouldn't your future knowledge be render unusable at some point when too much change has occured?" Anssa-um asked as he is resting from trying reassembles his motorcycle. At least he gains quite a bit of experience from it.
"By then, we would be able to punch upward our tiering by a few notches. Unless we go out of way to cause trouble, we'll mostly be fine for now". Gwi-jaum explains the situation.
Immovable Swordsmanship. The most reliable sword arts that he knew of. Always have its place despite going dozens of floor already. Can be evolved to True Immovable Swordsmanship which actually tell that just because it doesn't have the growth tag slapped onto it doesn't mean it become useless in eventuality.
Although he is adept at it already. He still needs to make contact and maintain a connection between his original mentor. He is vital for any later excursion of upper floors and the only safeguard against complete failure should it fall to him.
As Gwi-jaum reminiscences of his previous life, Anssa-um heard something going on outside before it slowly become louder. Decided that he should check out the sources, Anssa-um steps outside.
"What is up with that screaming and... Daegok-soo?" Anssa-um said just as he saw the scene outside.
Gwi-jaum also steps out to hear the commotion and instantly realized who is the man that is chasing his friends. That was his mentor in his previous life, suddenly chasing Daegok-soo for reasons he didn't know about.
By the time the three of them realized what they are perceived, the two is already at a significant distant away. Then Gwi-jaum immediately gave command once his thoughts are back in order.
"SHIT! Get the motorcycle going! We need to get after them now!" Gwi-jaum said Anssa-um immediately summon his motorcycle from the System's inventory.
The three quickly gets on vehicle as it immediately chase after the already hazy figures. Thus adding three more people to this mad chase that spans the night.